The unlawful arrest claim for damages of R5m against police will proceed, but the court date is yet to be finalised, according to Kodwa’s lawyer, Gugulethu Madlanga.

In a follow-up tweet Kodwa, a teetotaller, said his lawyers were in contact with the national prosecuting authority (NPA) about the dropping of the charge.

The former ANC Youth League spokesperson was arrested on November 11 in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and released on R1 000 bail after appearing at the Hillbrow Magistrate's Court.

Madlanga said he was notified of the results last Wednesday, but only got confirmation in writing on Tuesday.

“The criminal charges were very painful to my client and police have not explained why they arrested him,” Madlanga said.

He said Kodwa pleaded with them, insisting that he was not drunk.

The charge has not been withdrawn.

“Only the director of public prosecutions can do that,” Madlanga said.

Police are yet to respond to requests for comment.

Comments

Marius Koen - 2011-12-20 22:39

Now that is vulgar language!

Johncarlos ? Biza - 2011-12-20 23:27

You must have missed the 'former ANCYL spokesperson' part.

John - 2011-12-21 00:10

With the ANC crowd, it is very difficult to believe them.
I would expect the blood sample not to be the one from the night in question, but to have been swopped, before I thought him innocent.

John - 2011-12-21 00:33

Blue Light Brigade Strikes Again!
Friday, 09 of December, cars on the highway from Durban gave way to a political convoy with blue lights.
Remembering 1 man killed by the Blue Light Brigade in Durban, and another in Jo'burg, I protested those murders and raised my finger as they drove past.
They proceeded to block me and lunge their cars at me, as I swerved, slowed and pulled away. I held strong and steadfast in my protest! My family, however, were badly shaken.
It is time that the ANC realizes that they are not above criticism and rejection, and also NOT ABOVE THE LAW!
I expected them to zap me back, or even lay misdemeanor charges against me.
But the public harassment and bullying shows that these mentals are in a mindset of their own.
They need to be transferred to Antarctica!

Ian - 2011-12-21 05:05

@John
no no no, please not antartica, the almost unpolluted place on earth, rather send them to iraq, no US troops to protect there corrupt asses

Burtfred - 2011-12-21 07:29

John, please tell us another story. We have heard this one many times already.

Squeegee - 2011-12-21 07:48

You guys are missing the point. The police arrested a man - in this case a black man - and accused him of being drunk, without any proof. It could happen to any one of us. This is an abuse of power and I hope he wins his case. I taught my children that the law holds no fear for the innocent - that does not count anymore. You can be doing anything and get arrested and locked up for the night - with all that entails. This is a very scary scenario.

Lenand - 2011-12-21 09:46

Thing is, translations often render the meaning either weak or obscene. In any case, if I was wrongly accused of a crime I did not commit, not language would be vulgar.

Bongani Madaka - 2011-12-21 00:11

The police are just messing up man.. U dont needa blood test to tell if somebody has been drinking or not.. Its a training issue for the traffic cops..

Rob - 2011-12-22 08:25

So why did they arrest him? There is more to this story than we will ever know. If the police were just harrasing, stupid them.....on the other hand maybe his driving was suspect, maybe he was smoking or taking somnething else. Or maybe he needs a driving lesson. Wouldn't it be usefull to know the circumstances so that we can judge the outcome...this way we are left in a mist of suspicion.

Pur - 2011-12-21 00:30

They arrested him because he wouldn't pay his bribe the same as everyone else...

Robi - 2011-12-21 01:57

Take them on Zizi, we are tired of police who think they are a law into themselves and along kills suspects before appearing in courts( KZN Police squad)

Thabiso - 2011-12-21 08:08

True. I say he must now make them pay him the same way they wanted to get paid. Ohh and the arresting officers should be fired also.

doing any blood tests can take hours in a day to get the results, more especially for urgent matters. You dnt have to wait for months/years...

Deon - 2011-12-21 09:18

Melanie, private results take a few hours but gov. labs can take years. Previous stories in the media said that some people was told it could take 8 years!

Kevin - 2011-12-21 04:07

That doctor who sorted Schaik is so reliable

Squeegee - 2011-12-21 07:50

The guy is a known teetotaler. (Very rare in government I know). Abuse of police power, methinks.

Shoe - 2011-12-21 05:26

So says the guy who just married a woman 16 years his junior. Not that it matters anyway in South Africa where women are nothing more than tokens and trophies to display a guy's financial and sexual prowess and success.
So this man, fast approaching the 'twilight zone of mid-life, as indicated by his balding brow, and a cute tiny little pot-belly, is up on twitter disclosing his blood test results.
As if the public will believe that this new socially and politically connected groom of a 26 year old bride, did not 'buy' the results using his political connections. Because he done not imagine that the sane people are still asking the questiong that "What else got this balding crooked little man a stunning 26 year old besides his connections with power and wealth?".
Sorry Mr Powerful BEE-Zeezee, No test results produced in South African laboratories are going to convince the non-Sheeple sector of the society otherwise. Too bad if you were indeed sobre. So was Judge Nkola Motata!!!

Lenand - 2011-12-21 09:49

How old was the woman Hugh Heffner was to marry? Hugh must be South African, then. How many rich folks in America and Europe marry girls young enough to be their grandchildren?

nick.burnett - 2011-12-21 05:50

Wow, people need to stop with the knee jerk corruption comments. IF KODWA WASN'T A TEETOTALER HE WOULDN'T CLAIM TO BE AS HE COULD EASILY GET CAUGHT OUT. A teetotaler is someone who doesn't drink for some of the small minded people commenting. Also, he could easily have pulled rank or dropped name to avoid arrest, instead he went the whole way to ensure these obviously corrupt policemen get the punishment they deserve.

Lenand - 2011-12-21 09:50

He is black, that is enough to label him corrupt, a liar and any other bad label you can find. Where have you been?

maseratifittipaldi - 2011-12-21 06:21

Where does the R5m come in? Are the police party to this plan? The R5m is to offset WHAT losses exactly?

Ian - 2011-12-21 07:39

probably a claim against the Police for defamation of character, or something along those lines. but 5mil does sound a bit much.

Lenand - 2011-12-21 09:53

Well, anyone has a right to make a claim against wrongful arrest. Whether he wins or is even able to justify R5m is another story, but it should not detract from the fact that a non-drinker was arrested and treated like a drunk, when our roads are teeming with real drinkers who smell of alcohol but get away with paying a bribe. A court will determine whether Zizi deserves R5m and in my view, he has right to ask for anything and the courts will determine what is fair under the circumstances. Not everyone is affected the same by bad publicity. If you wanted to know the effect of such a story, read some of the views that he imply he is lying and his connection to the ANCYL or ANC makes him guilty regardless

Gwen - 2011-12-21 09:41

Hush... Everytime I hear those words in private talks, people Hush immediately.
Did you hear them too?
Rumors say that just the rich people know all about it.
Just do a G00GLE search for "BlueGoldHunt" all one word and click the first site that comes up.

Squeegee - 2011-12-21 10:50

Troll!!

ludlowdj - 2011-12-21 10:06

The current hand held Breathalyzer's do not work properly, I have personally dealt with an employee that was stopped at a road block in a company vehicle and arrested for driving under the influence, This poor guy was apparently tested 5 times, twice in my presence. each time his reading was over the legal limit. His case was adjourned the next day pending the outcome of the blood tests, which when they arrived confirmed that there was no alcohol in his system at all. The poor guy had in the mean time been dismissed and has fairly much had his life destroyed by the police and their incompetent masters. I say fight for your rights and don't hesitate to sue if you are innocent. Possibly the only way to force the authorities to do their jobs properly is to bankrupt them.

sean.redmond3 - 2011-12-21 10:10

There is a back log of 6 years, how did he get his results so quickly?